Following a slow period of shutting down the platform that has lasted several months, Nintendo has confirmed that it can no longer support repairs for Wii U consoles or peripherals. This message was posted on social media recently, with the tech titan stressing that it has ‘run out of parts’, and as of right now, the company will no longer fix the Wii U that you probably bought back in 2012.
Another Layer
In March 2023, the digital storefront on the Wii U (and 3DS) was shut down forever, forming the first layer of retirement for the decade-old console that, back in 2012, was pretty innovative. The Wii U boasted a portable tablet-style device that could be docked and turned into a traditional home console, and it had a relatively decent line-up of games, but all good things must come to an end.
In April 2024, Nintendo then moved to shut down the online services for both the Wii U and 3DS, blocking players from engaging in any multiplayer activity on either platform. If you still have a working console, you can of course play single-player games – provided your Wii U doesn’t break, that is.
Now, the third and final layer has been applied – Nintendo has stopped offering repairs for the Wii U. It now has no digital storefront, no online services, and no ‘easy way’ to get it fixed if it stops working. Is that enough to say the Wii U has been fully and truly laid to rest?
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